Printing and like machines



1960 w. F. GOLDING I 2,950,108

PRINTING AND LIKE MACHINES Filed May 2'7, 1958 United States PatentO 2,950,108 PRINTING AND MAJHINES William Frank Golding, 22 Parrys Close,'Stoke Bishop, Bristol, England This invention relates to. printing and like machines including pile delivery apparatusv of the kind wherein a platform supporting apile of delivered sheets is progressively lowered as the pile increases so that the top of the pile remains at a constantlevel asdelivery progresses, and wherein when the pile is full an auxiliary sheet receiver is introduced in a position above the pile while delivery continues so as to provide a temporary support for the sheets while the full pile and its platform are removed and afresh plat-form is broughttinto position. Such apparatus is hereinafter referred to as pile delivery apparatus of the kind specified.

In fast running machines there is a difiiculty in introducing the auxiliary receiver into position between the sheets falling onto the pile and the main object of this invention is to provide means for overcoming this difficulty.

According to this invention pile delivery apparatus of the kind specified comprises a sheet separating member situated adjacent the front face of the pile near the top thereof, the member being movable from a position clear of the vertical projection of the pile rearwardly into a position extending across the top of the pile over an area adjacent to the front face thereof and at a level above that in which the auxiliary receiver is to be introduced, thereby to support the front edge portion of sheets falling towards the pile after the separating member has been so moved and to create a gap between the top of the pile and the front edge portions of the sheets so supported, said gap defining an entry for the introduction of the auxiliary receiver.

One form of apparatus according to this invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the apparatus.

Fig. 2 is plan view of the apparatus.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged part view as seen in the direction of the arrow III in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line IV-IV in Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawing there is provided a sheet separating device comprising two horizontal bars 1, 1a supporting between them a row of pins 2 to each of which is pivoted a member 3 comprising a boss 4 integral with a sheet separating member or arm 5 and a lever 6. Each arm 5 has an upper face 5a sloping downwardly and away from the boss 4. The levers 6 are connected by a common parallel motion link or operating bar 7. The ends of the bars 1, 1a have secured thereto brackets 9 in turn connected to fixed side frames 8. Figs. 1 and 2 show the arms 5 in an operative position, and by pushing the bar 7 into the position indicated 7a, the arms 5 are moved into an inoperative position (Figs. 3 and 4) in which the arms 5 lie between the bars 1, 1a and extend in the direction of the length thereof.

The device is provided in respect of a pile delivery apparatus the general known features of which are as follows: Sheets 11 fed by a chain conveyor 12 are 2,950,108 Patented Aug. 23,

released therefrom in a position above a pile 13 resting on a platform 13a supported by means (not shown) for automatically lowering the platform 13a in accordance with the rate of delivery of the sheets 11, the top of the pile 13 being maintained at a level denoted 14. Guides 15 are provided on the frames 8 (which are the general side frames of the apparatus) for slidably supporting a platform or frame 16 defining an auxiliary sheet receiver.

The front face of the pile 13 is denoted 13b and it will be seen that in the inoperative position the arms 5 are clear of the vertical projection ofthe face 13b, i.e. situated slightly in front thereof, whereas in the operative position the arms 5 extend rearwardly across the; pile 13 intersecting said vertical projection. Moreoventhe arms 5 are pivotal in a plane above the level at which the frame 16 is movable in the guides 15 In operation, when the pile. 13' is full, the arms 5 are swung into the operative position by an operator moving the bar 7 whereby the first sheet 11 falling from the conveyor 12 after the arms 5 have been so moved comes to rest with its frontedge portion-on the faces 5a of the arms 5 substantially as shown in Fig. 1. Thereby there is created between the top of the pile '13 and the front edge portion of the sheet 11 a gap 18 (Fig. 1) defining an entry for the insertion; of the frame 16. Fig. 1 shows the leading portion of the frame 16 as the latter is in the course of being pushed into position in the directionof Before the frame 16 is inser'ted it is of course necessary to lower the pile by an amount suflicient for the frame 16 to clear the top of the pile. Such lowering of the pile 13' is done by a mechanism Well understood in the art.

After the frame 16 has been fully inserted the arms 5 are returned into the inoperative position, and while a small number of sheets accumulate on the frame 16 the pile 13 is removed and a fresh platform 13a is brought into position below the frame 16. The frame 16 is then withdrawn whereby the sheets thereon are deposited on the new platform.

It is noted that in the example shown the frame 16 comprises raised portions or ribs 16b the tops of which define the actual surfaces supporting the sheets 11.

The purpose of the ribs 16b is to provide space for stop members 21 the lower ends of which extend between the ribs 16b and locate the sheets 11 thereon in alignment with the front face 13b of the pile 13. The upper end portions of the members 21 cooperate to align the front edges of any sheets 11 supported on the arms 5. During ordinary delivery when the sheets 11 fall onto the pile 13 at the level 14, the members 21 act of course likewise to locate the sheets 11. The members 21 are conveniently connected to the bar 1a and are there supported on pivot pins 22 (Fig. 4) provided with a small tommy bar 23 whereby the members 21 may be turned into a position denoted 21a (Fig. 3) when it is desired to have access to the sheets 11 at the top of the pile, for example when a sheet has to be pulled out for inspection.

Corresponding stop members are provided at the back of the pile 13 where indicated at 24 in Fig. l.

The provision of stop members for controlling the alignment of the pile is of course known per se and it is likewise known for either the front or the back stop members to be movable to jog the sheets into alignment.

The drawing shows an example wherein the front stop members are to be so movable, and to this end the brackets 9 are pivotally connected to the frames 8 by pins 20, and the jogging movement of the members 2 1 comprises a pivotal movement of the bars 1, 1a together with the members 21 about the pins 20. The jogging movement of the members 21 takes place between the position shown in full lines (Fig; 1) and that shown in chain-dotted lines, the latter position being denoted 21b.

The pivotal jogging movinent is effected by a link 24 connecte to eachof the" brackets 9', means (not shown) being provided to ieeipreeate the link substantial-1y iii the 't'lire'c'tionof its length. V

Iii a modification instead of being positioned between 'tlie'bars 1, 1d; the men-15ers 3 are positioned below the liai- 1d as shown at 25 in Fig. 3. It will be seen that in this case the distance between the member 3 and the t me 16' is relativly small which is an advantage if the sheetsfill are relatively pliable;

What Ielairn and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

I. In sheet delivery apparatus for printing andlike machine's wherein sheets are-sequentially dropped onto a pile: a platform, guide means for supporting the platform for insertion from a position at one side of the pile and clear of the vertical projection thereof into a position above'the pile thereto siipport the oncoming sheets temporarily while the pile is removed upon having reaehed a maximum height, a support member situated at said one 'side'of the pile and adjacent the top thereof, a plurality of arms,- pivot means cooperating to connect the arms to the support member for pivotal movement of the arms in a substantially horizontal plane between an inoperative position-wherein the arms lie clear of the vertical projection of the pile and an operative position wherein the aims point in the direction in which said platform is inserted,- the arms being dimensioned to extend, when in the operative position; across the top of the pile over an area adjacent said one side thereof and 4 V at a level above that atwhich said platform is insertable along said guide means, and the arms cooperating to support adjacent edge portions of sheets dropped towards the pile after the arms have been moved into the operative position thereby to create a gap between the top of the pile and the sheets so supported, said gap defining an entry for the insertion of's'aid' platform.

2. Apparatus. eee'stdiagto :1,- eoinpi"ising means for retaining the arms in a mutually parallel relationship. W H a 3. Apparatus according reclaim 1, comprising a link extending across-the arms-e pivot pin provided on each of the arms between the arms and the link, said pivot pins being equi-distaht from the pivotal connections between the arms ande'zfidflSflpporthie'mber, and the link thereby cooperating to retain the arms in mutually parallel positions.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, each of said arms defining a supporting surface positioiied for the sheets to rest thereon when the"arm is iii the operative position, and wherein eacharfii iii-dimensioned for said supporting surface to slo e dewnwarasaana away from the connection between theaim and-said stipport member, whereby, when the arms are'in the operative position, the edge portions of sh ets-resting en the ar'msextend rearwardly and downwardly;

References Giteii iii the are or this .patent FOR IGN PATENTS 750,299 oreat'afitain' time 13, 1956 

